Ireland's Under-19s moved into the UEFA championship playoffs with a stylish victory at St Colman's Park, Cobh, last night. A goal at the start of each half from Stockport's Jonathan Daly provided the platform for this win in front of more than 5,000 fans.

And despite Croatia getting a goal back in the second half, Irish substitute Reineer Moor sealed the victory in the closing minutes just moments after Croatia were reduced to 10 men.

Ireland got off to a sensational start with Daly scoring after just 35 seconds. Right-back Stephen Brennan sent a long free kick into the box which was headed on by Michael Foley towards Daly. The striker turned and shot low across goalkeeper Tomislav Vranjic and into the far corner for his third goal of this qualifying tournament.

The Croats were pinned in their half for much of the first 45 minutes and Ireland dogged them at their every turn, but they did break out in the 24th minute when Goran Ljubjobevic sent a header just past goalkeeper Brian Murphy's post.

Croatia were caught cold once again in the 48th minute. Irish captain Graham Ward's shot was blocked by Vranjic but ran out to winger Liam Kearney, who sent the ball back into the area and Daly knocked the ball in.

Croatia hit back two minutes later when Ljubjobevic headed home, but Mladen Pelaic received a second yellow card in the 86th minute and two minutes later Moor's cross travelled all the way to the net.

REP OF IRELAND U-19: B Murphy, S Brennan, S Dillon, S Paisley, P McCarthy, G Ward, L Kearney, S Thornton, J Bailey, M Foley, A Veane.

CROATIA: T Vranjac, M Radas, D Bodrusic, M Pelaic, I Cosic, S Lapic, M Marinovic, D Cesarec, G Ljubjobevic, A Tomic, N Kranjcar.